AUBURN, Alabama -- The last two times Auburn has taken the field against an SEC opponent, the game has been out of reach before the Tigers even had a chance to breathe.

Both Texas A&M and Georgia's offenses put Auburn away in an avalanche of early points.

Auburn's defense has started slow all season. The Tigers have given up touchdowns on the first drive of their last four SEC games, going in a hole before the offense could ever get any traction.

"It’s hard, but for me when they jumped up that fast it kind of caught me off guard," defensive end Dee Ford said. "I was so focused on just trying to get everything going and trying to calm everybody down to keep fighting."

Early in the season, Auburn's defense bounced back from those opening drives. Texas A&M and Georgia just kept their feet on the throttle, using a series of explosive plays to essentially put the Tigers away before halftime.

"It obliterates the whole defense when one guy doesn’t do their job," Ford, who leads the Tigers with six sacks said. "There are a lot of explosive plays. It’s to the point now where dynamic offenses like Texas A&M and Georgia will get up real quick. You really have to come in with a different mindset."

Auburn's defense faces a different dynamic against Alabama. Playing on the road at Bryant-Denny Stadium, another poor start for Auburn's defense will bring an already-rowdy crowd to a fever pitch early.

Ford knows that the Tigers have to find a way to keep their heads.

"It’s going to be a hostile environment," Ford said. "We’re going to have to calm down and play ball at the end of the day and stay on one page.”